Rightly Dividing the Word

There is a tendency even in the body of Christ to cherry-pick portions of Scripture, taking them out of context in support of a position that is based more on opinion, their own experience (or lack of it), and the traditions of man rather than out of a serious desire to comprehend what the message of God truly is.

Many are what can be termed "Leopard Christians:" believing that "the Bible is true and trustworthy only in some spots-- and only WE are anointed to know which spots those are."

STOP IT, STOP IT, STOP IT!

It is precisely such ungodly nonsense that drives unseasoned believers out of the Church and stands as a roadblock for unbelievers to come to the faith. It has led to contentions within the bride of Christ and split some churches down the middle. Many times I witnessed such as the son of a preacher and since as a dedicated student of the Scriptures and prophecy.

Allow me to focus for the moment on the phrases in the above passage that are in all caps. All genuine followers of Christ accept and cling to the first phrase, "Who forgives all your iniquities." Yet on the very next phrase they choke up, "Who heals all your diseases."

Yet we have no less than 101 verses in context that verify it is God's perfect will for all to be healed, and to live to a ripe old age in good health. Indeed, there are far more.

All premature deaths can be traced to the fallen world, the actions of ourselves and others, and a devil who wants us-- if we don't have the decency to reject Jesus to at least get out of here quickly so we cannot threaten his realm.

The only acceptable way to study the Word of God is to follow the process:

(1) Study each passage IN CONTEXT. Look at the verses before and following the target verse, and in light of the culture and setting.

(2) When the plain sense makes good sense, seek no other sense, or you will wind up with utter nonsense.

(3) Look for the first mention in the Bible of a particular word, for that is normally where the word will be explained. If you are unable to find it using a good concordance, utilize a good Bible dictionary and a literal translation of the Bible from the original languages in which it was written. Greek, Aramaic and Hebrew are far more expressive than today's English, having words with highly precise meanings.

(4) Before you do any study, pray in faith. Holy Spirit will open your eyes every time to things you never saw before. In all likelihood you were not quite ready for the revelation before.

(5) Be more honorable than most in quickly searching the Scriptures concerning anything you read or hear other than the Bible itself. If you cannot verify it from the writings of at least two and preferably three different writers in the Bible, then put that thought on the shelf and do not accept or spread it unless and until you can so verify it. One lady even said to a preacher, "you know, as it says in the song..." Dangerously destructive foolishness.

The Word is life, healing, uplifting and will prosper your ways-- but only if you rightly divide it as you stand on it in the Name of Jesus.